Downtown Travel Guide
Santa Cruz
Popular places to visit
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Enjoy the exciting rides at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and see why everyone loves this theme park in Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the cycling trails.
Mystery Spot
Find out about the history of Santa Cruz when you take a trip to Mystery Spot. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the surfing spots.
Natural Bridges State Park
You can take time to visit Natural Bridges State Park during your travels to Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the cycling trails.
Santa Cruz Wharf
After visiting Santa Cruz Wharf, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the surfing spots.
Ocean Street
During your visit to Santa Cruz, you can search for that perfect souvenir at Ocean Street. Wander the area's beautiful beaches or simply enjoy one of its top-notch restaurants.
Pacific Avenue
During your visit to Santa Cruz, you can search for that perfect souvenir at Pacific Avenue. Wander the beautiful beaches in this family-friendly area.
Things to do
Capitola Friday Night Food Tour
Beginner Outdoor Rock Climbing - Bay Area
UC Santa Cruz: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour
Capitola Private Personalized Self-Guided App Tour
Top hotels in Downtown
Ocean Pacific Lodge
Really don’t know how it got a “wonderful” overall rating on hotels.com… it is a very dated, kind of damp and dingy place. Some upgrades have been made, like new headboard and media console, but the rug is dingy and dark, the bathroom and shower had cracked tiles that were attempted to be recaulked, ...
Reviewed on 11 Apr 2026
Dream Inn Santa Cruz
Our room was very clean and the bed was very comfortable. The hot tub was extremely crowded however it was Spring Break for a lot of people. We love how everything we needed was within walking distance.
Reviewed on 10 Apr 2026
La Bahia Hotel and Spa
Clean room
Reviewed on 10 Apr 2026
Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Clean room, the bar and restaurant were nice.
Reviewed on 11 Apr 2026
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz
It was clean and quiet. The breakfast was delicious! Staff was helpful.
Reviewed on 11 Apr 2026
Chaminade Resort & Spa
Everything is great but we arrived in our room with long lizard in the bathtub.
Reviewed on 10 Apr 2026
Other neighbourhoods around Downtown
Mission Hill
While visiting Mission Hill, you might make a stop by sights like Mission Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park.
Downtown Santa Cruz
Unique features of Downtown Santa Cruz include the beaches and restaurants. Make a stop by Pacific Avenue or Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History while you're exploring the area.
Westside Santa Cruz
Travellers to Westside Santa Cruz praise its stunning beaches. If you've got some more time to explore, be sure to stop by Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
Beach Hill - Beach Flats
While there might not be top attractions in Beach Hill - Beach Flats, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Main Beach.
Lower Ocean
Lower Ocean might not have many top sights, but Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Pacific Avenue are two attractions nearby that you can check out.
Circles
While Circles may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Cowell's Beach.
